Whiffletree-coupling.



N0. 636,813. PatentedNov. I4, 1899. C. KRETSCHMER. WHIFFLETREEfiOUPLING.

(Application filed May 19, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet (No Model.)

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N0. 636,8l3. Patented Nov. l4, I899.

- C. KRETSCHMER.

WHIFFLETREE COUPLING.

(Application filed May 19, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (No Model.)

WW-I F u 5 0 1|. PLSFI 8 {Q a a F 4 7 5.55 v 6 W" mm M7 W z a 7 .W 5 w 2W 7 flu 2 W g 3 m w? L 4 1 i E m X CHARLES KRETSOHMER,

OF PUEBLO, COLORADO.

WHIFFLETREE-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent l lo. 636,813, datedNovember 14, 1899. Application filed May 19, 1899 Serial No. 717,447.(No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES KRETSOHMER,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Pueblo, in the county ofPueblo and State of Oolrado, have invented a new and usefulWhiffletree-Ooupling,of which thefollowingis a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in whiftletree-cou plin gs.

The object ofthe present invention is to improve the construction ofwhiffletree-couplings and to provide a simple, inexpensive, andefficient device designed to be applied to a tongue and to the cross-barof a pair of thills and capable of increasing the durability of suchparts by reinforcing the same where they are perforated for thereception of pivots. I

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of awhiffletree-coi'ipling constructed in accordance with this invention andshown applied to a portion of a doubletree and a tongue. Fig. 2 is avertical. sectional view taken longitudinally of the tongue. Fig. 3 is asimilar view taken transversely of the tongue. Fig. 4 is a detailperspective view of the upper section of the coupling. Fig. 5 is asimilar view of the lower section of the coupling. Fig. 6 is aperspective view showing the device applied to a portion of a singletreeand the cross-bar of a pair of thills. Fig. 7 is a vertical sectionalviewtaken-trans- Versely of the cross-bar.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawings.

1 and 2 designate upper-and lower sections of a whiffletree-coupling;and these sect-ions are provided at their adjacent faces with concentricannular flanges or enlargements which are interlocked with each otherand provide a bearing. The sections of the coupling are provided withregistering perforations for the reception of a pivot-bolt 3,and theupper section 1 has its concentric flanges or enlargements 4t and 5arranged to receive the concentric flanges or enlargements 6 and 7 ofthe lower section of the coupling. The flange or enlargement 7 of thelower section is arranged .around the central opening and fits withinthe inner flange 5 of the upper section, the said inner flange forming asocket to receive the part 7. The outer flange 6 of the lower section ofthe coupling is received Within the annular space between the inner andouter flanges of the upper section.

The coupling is shown applied in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, to a portionof a pole or tongue and a portion of a doubletree, and the lower section2 is provided at opposite sides of the pole or tongue 8 with dependingvertical sides or flanges 9, terminating in threaded extensions 10,which pass through eyes 11 of a plate 12. The plate 12, which is boltedto the lower face of the tongue, reinforces the same and is providedwith lateral extensions which are perforated to form the eyes 11. Thethreaded extensions receive nuts 13, which are located at opposite sidesof the nut 14 of the pivot-bolt. The sides or flanges 9, which arelocated at opposite sides of the tongue or-pole, support the same at thepoint where it is perforated for the reception of the pivot-bolt, andthe durability of the pole is thereby greatly increased.

The upper section of the coupling is provided with horizontal extensions15, which are perforated to formears 16, and it has vertical flanges 17located between the extensions and arranged at opposite sides of thedoubletree 18, whereby the latter is reinforced and supported oppositethe pivot-bolt, similar to.

the tongue or pole. By this arrangement the doubletree is prevented fromsplitting, and in order to brace the same further vertical bolts 19 arearranged in pairs at opposite sides of the doubletree. The horizontalextensions which are arranged on the lower face of the doubletreeproject laterally therefrom, and. the bolts 19, which have their headscountersunk in the projecting portions or cars 16, extend from the sameto the top of the doubletree and pass through perforated ears or lugs 20of a top plate 21. The top plate 21, which is arranged on the upper faceof the doubletree, is perforated for the reception of the pivot-bolt,and it is engaged by nuts 22, arranged on the threaded upper ends of theThe top plate has its ends tapered and bolts.

rounded, as shown, and is provided with an upwardly projecting tubularextension or sleeve 23, which receives a brace 24. The brace 24, whichis arched to pass over the dou bletree, has its ends bolted to the poleor tongue, and it is provided with a central eye 25 for the reception ofthe sleeve 23, a washer 26 being interposed between the brace and thetop plate.

In Figs. 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings the whiffletree-couplingis shown applied to a singletree 27 and to the cross-bar 28 of a pair ofthills. The parts are arranged similar to those before described, withthe exception that the lower section is connected with a clipplate 29and the top plate is not provided with a tubular extension or sleeve.The clipplate 29, which is perforated for the reception of the threadedterminals of the flanges of the lower section of the coupling and thepivot.- bolt, is provided atits rear end with an eye or opening 30 andis connected with the singlet-ree by an L-shaped brace 31. The saidclipplate, which is disposed transversely of the cross-bar, extendsrearwardly therefrom and is designed to be connected with a suitablestay strap or chain, the eye or opening serving as means for connectingthe same with it.

The L'-shaped brace, which is composed of a short horizontal arm and alonger vertical arm, has its lower end threaded and passed through aperforation of the clip-plate, which is secured to the brace by means ofa pair of nuts 32 engaging the upper and lower faces of the clip-plate.The horizontal arm of the L-shaped brace terminates in an eye 33, whichengages a polygonal portion of the pivot-bolt 34, the eye being of thesame shape as the adjacent portion of the pivot-bolt, whereby the latteris locked against rotation to prevent the nut at its lower end fromaccidentally unscrewing.

The L- shaped brace is adapted to support the singletree and is capableof preventing the same from tilting should the plates become worn andloose, and the nuts will enable the wear to be readily taken up. Alsothe washer 26 may be readily detached and renewed when necessary.

The invention has the following advantages: The whifiletree-cou pling,which is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction,

possesses great strength and durability, and it is adapted to be appliedeither to a pole and its doubletree or to a singletree and the crossbarof a pair of thills. It is adapted to brace and support the wooden partsat the points where they are perforated for the reception of thepivot-bolts, and it eifectually prevents the said wooden parts fromsplitting.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details ofconstruction within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted towithout departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantagesof this invention.

What is claimed is 1. A whiflietree-couplingcom prisingalower sectionprovided with depending sides or flanges adapted to embrace and supporta tongue or a cross-bar and terminating in threaded extensions adaptedto extend through eyes of a bottom plate, an uppersection provided withperforated portions or ears and having upwardly-extending flangeslocated between the same and adapted to embrace and support awhiiiietree, a top plate, fastening devices arranged in pairs andconnecting the top plate with the perforated portions or ears of theupper section, and a pivot connecting the sections, substantially asdescribed.

2. A whiflietree-couplingcomprisingalower section provided withdepending sides or flanges terminating in threaded extensions andadapted to embrace a tongue or a crossbar, a bottom plate having eyes oropenings receiving the threaded extensions, nuts arranged on the latter,an upper section interlocked with the lower section and provided withhorizontal extensions, said upper section having vertical flangeslocated between the horizontal extensions and adapted to embrace awhiffletree, a top plate having perforated projecting portions, andbolts arranged in pairs and connecting the extensions of the uppersection with the projecting portions of the top plate, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES KRETSCHMER.

\Vitnesses:

W. H. THOMPSON, T. G. W. CANTRY.

